Many businesses that need to handle and store large items rely on material handling equipment and systems. Goods handling equipment, in general, refers to equipment meant to move, handle, protect, or store material at warehouses and facilities through various operations. This equipment is utilized in a variety of sectors, making it extremely adaptable. You can better equip your facility with the correct equipment and systems for your company's needs if you know more about material handling equipment.

Discover about the many types of material handling equipment and how they may be employed in a variety of sectors. You may also be interested in learning more about the key benefits of utilizing material handling equipment and how to select the appropriate equipment for your requirements.

Materials handling equipment types

Bulk handling material equipment, engineered systems, storage and handling equipment, and industrial trucks are the 4 main kinds of material handling equipment.

1. Material handling equipment in bulk

Material handling equipment that transports, stores, and regulates large items is referred to as bulk handling material handling equipment. Bulk handling material equipment is often designed to transfer and store materials in a loose state. These machines are used to handle food, liquids, metals, and minerals.

If you want to understand what bulk material equipment is, have a look at some of the most common types below:

• Hoppers: Hoppers are enormous funnel-shaped objects with closing apertures. Hoppers are used by industries to dump loose items into containers.
• Reclaimers: Reclaimers are big machines that gather up unwanted materials from a company's stockpile.
• Conveyor belts: Conveyor belts are an important component of any conveyor system. They spin their belts and convey bulk goods from one point to another using drums or pulleys.
• Stackers: Stackers play an important role in bulk material handling. This automated device is capable of moving loose materials to stockpiles on its own.
• Bucket and grain elevators: Bucket elevators, also known as grain legs, carry bulk items vertically. They will carry and occasionally store these components throughout a production process.

2. Engineered systems

Engineered systems, often known as automated systems, are automated bulk material handling systems used to move and store items. Typically, automated systems include a number of pieces of equipment. They are quite popular since they eliminate the need for physical labor to execute numerous jobs. The following are some of the most common types of engineered systems:

• Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS): Because it can manage a large amount of work, an AS/RS is a widely common form of engineering system. It makes use of a shuttle to pick up loose materials and then arrange them on necessary sections of the system, and the picking procedure may be done manually or automatically. Racks, shelves, and aisles are also included in these systems for efficient processing. They may also be linked to a company's network, allowing management to easily monitor their stock.
• AGVs (automated guided vehicles): AGVs are computer-controlled trucks equipped with sensors and detectors. These vehicles may operate totally autonomously, transporting products securely throughout your facility along specified paths.
• Robotic delivery systems: To transport products, several institutions use automated robotic delivery systems. These systems are often used by industries to carry goods on an assembly line.
• Conveyor systems: Conveyor systems include a variety of devices and mechanical assemblies that carry goods automatically across a facility. These conveyor systems are available in a variety of forms, including apron, cleated, chain, overhead, and vehicle conveyor systems.

3. Industrial trucks

Industrial trucks span a wide range of equipment and are all intended to aid in cargo transportation. These industrial trucks can range in size from small, hand-operated machines to big, driveable machines. In general, industrial trucks are classified into two types: non-stacking trucks and stacking trucks. Non-stacking trucks are just meant for transportation, whereas stacking trucks may load and stack items.

Here are some of the most common types of industrial trucks:

• Hand trucks: Hand trucks are generally called dollies, and they’re a basic piece of equipment created to deliver operators the leverage they need to roll heavy materials to various destinations.
• Side loaders: Side loaders are designed to fit between small aisles and easily pick up products on each side of them.
• Pallet trucks: Pallet trucks, often known as forklifts, are equipment that may be used by operators to raise huge pallets. They have forks that are meant to go under the pallet, raise it up, and secure it while the operator transports it to a new site. Manual and electric forklifts may be found at a variety of warehouses around the country.
• Order pickers: Order pickers are used by operators when they need to retrieve goods that are placed high up. These devices safely raise operators, allowing them to reach items that are otherwise inaccessible.

4. Equipment for storage and handling

Storage and handling equipment aids in the safe storage and organisation of materials as they await the next stage of the manufacturing or distribution process. Depending on the demands of the industry, this storage equipment may be used to keep items for short or lengthy periods of time. Storage and handling equipment is typically fixed and not automated, but it is frequently used in combination with automated systems and equipment

The following are some of the most prevalent types of storage and handling equipment:

• Shelving, drawers, and bins: Shelving is used to store and arrange basic supplies. Bins and drawers are more common when a company needs to arrange smaller goods that would otherwise be easily misplaced.
• Mezzanines: A mezzanine is an elevated interior platform that offers an additional storage room above ground level. These mezzanines allow businesses to store things vertically while freeing up space on the warehouse floor. They are available in modular, rack-supported, portable, free-standing, and building-supported designs.
• Racks: Racks enable the firm to store items in easily accessible areas while saving floor space. Racks for numerous applications are available, including sliding racks, drive-in or drive-through racks, pallet tracks, and push-back racks.
• Stacking frames: Manufacturers create stacking frames so that they may be stacked on top of one another. They are one of the most used forms of storage equipment in material handling because they safely store pallets loaded with fragile equipment while conserving space.